First Heat Wave Of 2013 – Day 2

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Sizzling sunshine will scorch us here in the Delaware Valley again Thursday, with a huge ridge of high pressure pumping in more heat and humidity from the southwest.

Temperatures overachieved yesterday, with the mercury soaring to 90 degrees at the airport. That means a forecasted four-day heat wave as the CBS3 Eyewitness Weather Team expects daytime highs to climb to 90 or higher right through Saturday. Each day will feature hazy, scorching sun and increasing humidity.

This kind of heat is not uncommon in our area. However, it’s been nearly nine months since we recorded temperatures quite this high. That can be a shock to the system since we’re not fully adjusted just yet, so listen to your body and be smart about any time spent outside.

Record-breaking Temperatures?

In short, probably not. Most of us will likely flirt with daily records over the next few days but have a hard time actually achieving them. However, there could be a few spots that get there. In Philadelphia, the daily record to beat is 97 for May 30th, 31st and June 1st. But right now, Thursday looks to be the hottest day of the forecast, with a high of 93.

Air Quality Concerns

A problem we sometimes see with this kind of an atmospheric setup is air pollution. Most of the Tri-state area sits under a Code Orange Air Quality Alert through Thursday due to higher pollution concentration levels. This can be unhealthy for those that are sensitive to it (i.e. children and the elderly, those that are asthmatic, or those who have heart or lung disease). It’s best to avoid strenuous activity if you know you suffer from the conditions mentioned.

When Does it End?

The atmospheric roadblock will eventually ease up and allow a new cold front to come along. Sunday still looks pretty hot (upper 80s), but by Monday, that front crosses the region, bringing showers and thunderstorms along the way and cooling us back down to the more seasonable upper 70s.

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Meteorologist Katie Fehlinger joined CBS 3 and The CW Philly’s morning news team in September, 2011.
Previously, Fehlinger had been the weekend morning news forecaster for WCBS in New York. Before coming to CBS, Fehlinger was a forecaster...